By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON (AA) – Britain will extend its support to border checks on French soil with additional investment, British Prime Minister Theresa May said Thursday.
The announcement came during the 35th Franco-British summit held in Sandhurst, outside of London, which saw French President Emmanuel Macron’s first visit to the U.K. since he came to office.
In a joint news conference, May said the U.K. and France would reinforce the security infrastructure at Calais, in northern France, and the new investment will make the borders even more secure.
The extra £44.5 million ($61.8 million) will go towards fencing, CCTV and detection technology in Calais and other ports where migrants are present along the Channel, according to officials.
The money will also help in the relocation of people away from ports to prevent the formation of new migrant camps similar to the Calais “jungle” which was dismantled in 2016.
May said both leaders remained committed to the “Le Touquet ” border agreement in Calais.
She said the relationship between the U.K. and France went beyond defense and security and would continue after the U.K. leaves the EU.
– Brexit
Macron said the new border treaty covers unaccompanied children and will reduce the time taken in dealing with cases.
The new agreement will ensure a “more human” approach to border control, he said.
May also confirmed that “the U.K.-France Combined Joint Expeditionary Force will be ready to deploy up to 10,000 troops quickly and effectively to face any threat by 2020”.
Underlining that Brexit was not the main focus during Thursday's talks, Macron said he hoped the talks would not affect the wider relationship.
However, Macron reiterated that a future trade relation between the U.K. and the EU would not include the full trade rules a member country can enjoy.
“If you want access to the single market, including the financial services, be my guest, ” he said.
“But it means that you need to contribute to the budget and acknowledge European jurisdiction. Such are the rules and we know this is the system already in place for Norway.
“If you want a trade access, it will cover everything, but then it is not full access to the single market and to financial services. Otherwise it’s closer to the situation of Canada. “
– Bayeux Tapestry
The two leaders also agreed on a loan of the Bayeux Tapestry — a 70-meter-long embroidered cloth depicting the Norman Conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066 — for public display in the U.K.
Macron underlined that the French are very proud of the tapestry.
It is “an invitation to be humble”, because of the art it represents, he said.
“Our shared history is reflected in the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the U.K. in 2022, the first time it will be on British soil in more than 900 years, ” May said on the loan agreement.
“The loan of the Tapestry will form part of a wider cultural exchange taking place between Britain and France over the next four years, ” she added.
The tapestry, which was made in the U.K. more than 900 years ago, will leave France for the first time.
